An Autobiography of an Ancient Athlete & Antiquarian

98 AUTOBIOGRAPHY book, partly as to E.B.G., and partly with Kiffy Brown, round the Anguish's House cellars, which house I after– wards bought from him. On the 24th October I had a long ride to Stanmore,. but my tyre punctured. Wastnage proved a good Samaritan, and I afterwards found out what a splendid mechanic he was. Others did so also, and he made~several grand trikes for me. He is now a big motor manufacturer. On the 30th I had a very sharp attack of gout in great toe, and on the 31st tried Palmer's tyres for the first time. On November 5th with G. B. to Alton. Drove over to the Selborne Cottage to get ready for the' T.H. & H. Run. We used to bring down large quantities of game, hare, and steak to make a gigantic stew on these occasions, and on this occasion the hamper was extremely sanguinary, so much so that it attracted the suspicions both of the hansom cabman and the railway porters. Drove over to Liphook to meet the pack and take the bags and Dr. Voelcker back. We put the whole lot up in the cottage somehow. Roses and forget-me-nots were still out. The Rev. T. H. Marsh came over (he was staying at Fitz John's Avenue) to see my rock garden early on a very foggy morning (11th). On the 13th I rode over again tu see my sisters at Hemel Hempstead, put my machine up at the "Bell'' (where there was a curious old wall-paper representing hunting and other sports), and had tea at sisters', where they thought a small bit of fried plaice enough for an old man who had ridden 22 miles through the mud to see them. So I supplemented it with further food when I got back to the inn ! I came back the next day via Stanmore and the Hale, 25 miles, before lunch. On the 20th to East Dereham and slept there. Early train to Cawston and got photos for book. Judge Willis' pro-Boer speech was much discussed, and the draft of my replying letter in the "Daily Press,. was locally applauded. On the 27th with Macfarlane to the Stanley Show, Islington, to see if there were any novelties, but found none. I rode over on afternoon of the 4th to Roehampton, was too late for run, but had tea there and found Walter Wright had died and was buried. Rode back with Holman, but both our machines broke down.